Ashley's Story

She will leave fingerprints all over your heart

1/29/2008

She made it!

We couldn't be happier! Our little pickle has finally matured into a mighty dill. She made it! She is now on the charts(at the bottom of the 10th percentile, but she now has a dot). Our little 2lb12oz baby gherkin has grown into a 25lb giant pickle. We didn't think this day would ever come.

We had our appointment in Shreveport this morning with Ashley's new doctors. It went so well! Dave and I left smiling ear to ear and we talked about how pleased we were the whole way home. The entire team was fabulous and so very encouraging and kind. The doctor had good, good things to say about Ashley's development and after a tough couple of weeks of therapy it was SO encouraging. "Delayed? She is definitely not what I would consider delayed. I just watched her with that book. Under stimulated? Yes, because of the amount of drugs she is on, but don't think of her as delayed. She will get there and her little mind is going to be fine." I can't tell you HOW GOOD it felt to hear a professional say that about Ashley Kate. We are so encouraged and uplifted. To know that somebody else who has never met our Ashley can see the potential that her daddy, her mommy, and Ms. Sue(her physical therapist) can see is wonderful. He had nothing negative to say about her.

We are also beginning a new schedule for her feedings. Gaining 3lbs in 6 weeks is a little too much. Don't get me wrong, she is definitely not fat. We just don't need her growing at that rate for too long. We are going to begin the slow process of cutting her time on the pump and allowing her to feel hungry. We are adding an appetite stimulant and cutting back on the calories she receives from her formula so that her feeding therapy might go a little smoother. This week she will go from 24 hours on the pump down to 20. Then every two weeks we will cut back until she is down to 12 hours again(just like she was before the rejection). Tonight she ate her first baby foods since our return home and we are so pleased! I think one of my favorite quotes from her doctor today was this, "Why did we give her a transplant? We did it so she could eat and grow. Right? We didn't put her through all of this so she could be fed by a tube her whole life did we?" Dave and whole heartedly agree and we are thrilled to be on the same page with him. Our long term goals are to have Ashley Kate eating by mouth. Our short term goals are to rid her of the g-j tube because the doctor confirmed our thoughts that the j portion could be causing her vomiting. It won't happen right away, but it is definitely on the list. We would like to return to the g tube and then eventually get rid of it as well.

Ash has two therapy sessions tomorrow and again on Thursday then she will finish up for the week. She loves the weekends when no one comes in to make her work. She likes to call the shots and those silly therapists just don't let her. She has done a good job so far this week and so I am hoping tomorrow will go well too.

We have been encouraged by all that took place today and I just love how the Lord knows exactly when you need a little encouraging. It couldn't have come at a better time. Good night guys. Trish

26 Comments:

At 9:14 PM , Blogger Sunshine said...

PRAISE GOD! This is amazingly huge! I am so happy for you guys - WOW what an amazing way to end my day! Sunshine

 
At 9:29 PM , Blogger Elizabeth said...

Awesome, awesome, awesome Ashley! Keep up the good work guys!

 
At 9:43 PM , Blogger Elizabeth S said...

That is FANTASTIC news! That doctor sounds so encouraging. I know you needed this news. God is GOOD!!!

 
At 9:49 PM , Blogger Sandy said...

Oh Trish that is wonderful news!!! I'm smiling from ear to ear myself so I can only imagine how great you felt typing this post!!!

 
At 9:54 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

PRAISE THE LORD!!!
That is great news!!! I am so happy for you all. Way to go Ashley, you made it onto the charts!! woo hoo!!

Love,
Lisa

 
At 9:59 PM , Blogger PartyofFive said...

What great and promising news for you guys and Ashley! I hope therapy continues to go well.

 
At 10:54 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have thought about our bumping into each other this afternoon in the store. I really enjoyed chatting with you. I can't help but smile just thinking about how radiant you looked and your big beautiful smile as you told me about the doctors visit in Shreveport. You were just absolutely beaming, your eyes were just sparkling and with very good reason. WOW~~what wonderful news~~encouraging news today!!
I know all your family,friends and prayer warriors are praising God for His wonderful mercies~~for His loving grace and for His mighty works in little Ashley.
Hope Sunday afternoons will work for you to join us, beginning February 10th.
Much love and prayers~~~Janiece

 
At 12:13 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great news!! If you were able to attend that Bible study at your church, you should try. I'm on week 2 of that same study and it's been a blessing! I'm really enjoying it.

 
At 12:22 AM , Blogger The Dean Family said...

I praise the Lord for such a great visit with the doctors! How exciting and such a blessing! Thanks for the update. Still praying for you all to stay on this positive course.
Angela in AK

 
At 5:58 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

What an encouraging post! I am so blessed to have been able to come here to Ashley's story on the hard days and on the good ones like today. Know that you are ever in my prayers.

 
At 8:16 AM , Blogger missy said...

I am so excited for you all!!! God is so good, isn't He?

 
At 8:59 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

So happy for your good news. Ashley has come such a long way with God's love.

 
At 9:03 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

What wonderful exciting news! It is awesome that someone new to Ashley could have such wonderful words of encouragement! This is truely God's hand on your shoulder telling you that all is going to be well.
Congratulations.
And from someone with a 1 or 2 percentile 5 year old. Those darn charts are silly. They wouldn't have all those percentiles if a child wasn't supposed to fit into all of them. Congrats on the dot though! ;o)

 
At 9:06 AM , Blogger Holly said...

Yay God! So very proud of your Ashley and praying for continued health and joy and spunkiness. :)

We dearly miss our pediatrician from S'port--Dr. Barnett...he took care of our oldest three.

Praying for your day,
holly

 
At 10:15 AM , Blogger Laurie in Ca. said...

This is such great news to hear. Ashley is doing so good and my heart just soars reading of her progress. She is not delayed one bit if you just compare her to the miracle that she is. The rest is just numbers and God knows exactly what He is doing with Ashley to show us who is in control of all things. I sure could feel the excitement in your heart as I read here Trish. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. I am so glad for you!!!!:)

Love, Laurie in Ca.

 
At 10:50 AM , Blogger Amy T said...

How awesome! I am so excited for you! I am sure you and Dave were literally bouncing when you came through those doors. I know I would have been! Thank you for sharing your joy.

 
At 11:54 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

How wonderful to have such good news!!! She is on her way to the life you have always known she would have.

 
At 12:28 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

What awesome news that is! God is so great to continue to bring such wonderful doctors into your lives! I'm praying for Ashley and her therapists this week:)

 
At 2:13 PM , Blogger HennHouse said...

Praise God! What and awesome report...

 
At 6:14 PM , Blogger Michelle said...

What wonderful news!!! PTL!!

 
At 7:40 PM , Blogger Mayhem And Miracles said...

I am so HAPPY and relieved you found someone who is in same thinking with you. What a fantastic blessing that is! Also, tell Miss Dot that Bob and Larry and her aunt and uncle and cousins are all VERY proud of her new dill status. And that we said to remember to be a sweet pickle and not a sour one for Ms. Sue. :)

 
At 9:12 PM , Blogger Shari said...

Absolutely wonderful news! Praising Jesus for the news, too! Still praying as usual for the now "big" pickle.

Joyously,

Shari

 
At 10:54 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great news! This post brought my heart such joy! Thank you for posting about Ashley! What a miracle, blessing and testiment to God your family is!
WOW 25 lbs that is the exact weight of my 2 year old she sounds PERFECT to me!!! ~Chan~

 
At 9:00 AM , Blogger Sarah said...

I bet you were walking on air after that appointment! What a great bunch of news! Thanks for sharing--your pickle continues to be on our family's hearts and in our prayers!!

 
At 12:55 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Praise GOD for the encouragement!! This is music to my ears(and eyes)!!
SO VERY BLESSED!! YAY!! Go Ashley Go!!
May God keep you all in his arms and continue to bless you!!
~Okla

 
At 11:37 AM , Blogger Gretchen said...

Wow! Praise God for such encouraging news about Ashley. Isn't it nice to hear all those positive words? I'm just so glad for you--for the path Ashley is heading down. Yes, undoubtedly, there will be bumps and crazy therapy days, but that's all part of the road to healing and growth. Good for you, Trish. Good for all of you. I'm beyond tickled pink for you guys.

 

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